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In view of forthcoming general elections and Simhastha 2016, ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has touched sentimental card ahead of elections by completing multi-crore Narmada Kshipra Simhastha Link project.
The party patriarch LK Adwani will inaugurate the project in Ujjaini village of Ujjain district tomorrow. BJP president Rajnath Singh, Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj and leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley will also be present at the inaugural ceremony.
“The first phase of the project has been completed with an investment of Rs 432 crore and the state government will dedicate it to public tomorrow,” a government official said adding, “The Sangam Sthal (confluence site) will be developed as a prominent tourist spot.”
Last week state chief minister, Shivraj Singh Chauhan, along with his cabinet colleague inspected the progress of the project and organised cabinet meeting there. Chouhan had said, he had been inspired by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s ambitious river-linking scheme. “We have successfully linked the two rivers in just 14 months which was described impossible is some quarters,” Chouhan had said.
He had also announced that “Gambhir, Parvati and Kalisindh” rivers will also be linked with the river Narmada. A detailed project report was being readied, he said and added, linking of rivers was aimed add another area of 1.6 million hectare under irrigation and also providing drinking water to over 3,000 villages. The project involves a tough task of lifting Narmada water to 350 metres to Kshipra.
On the other hand BJP workers are making extra efforts to make the rivers link inaugural function an impressive in view of forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. “The party did not performed well in last 2009 general elections in Malwa belt particularly in Ujjain, Neemuch, Mandsaur, Ujjain and Dewas. The project would not only put the party on an advantage but also the party would be able to muster support on religious sentiments since Simhastha is nearing,” a senior political observer said.
